Nov. 8, 2014
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SAN DIEGO - Playing its lone exhibition game of the 2014-15 campaign, the San Diego State women's basketball team needed a late rally to defeat a pesky Point Loma squad, 55-52, on Saturday at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs witnessed a 14-point first-half lead evaporate before regrouping with timely baskets and clutch free throws down the stretch to escape with the win.
Despite owning a sizeable 45-24 rebounding margin and a 26-8 scoring advantage in the paint, SDSU had its hands full against the Sea Lions, who tallied 16 points off 14 Aztec turnovers and drained eight 3-pointers on the afternoon.
Junior Erimma Amarikwa (Vacaville, Calif.) was the lone SDSU player in double figures, finishing with 10 points off the bench, while senior Khristina Hunter (Fairfield, Calif.) contributed nine points and seven rebounds. The Aztec cause was also aided by junior Ahjalee Harvey (Mountain View, Calif.), who totaled eight points, including five huge free throws, while fellow classmate Deidra Smith (Aurora, Colo.) added seven points and game-best eight rebounds.
On the flip side, PLNU received a sparkling performance by Jessica Escorza, who led all players with 26 points on 7-of-11 shooting and nine free throws, while Madison West scored 11 points of her own and tied teanmate Anna Viettry with a game-high four assists.
In a game that featured eight lead changes and four ties, SDSU was the first to seize the momentum, utilizing a 19-3 blitz over a 12-minute span to build a 27-13 advantage with 1:30 left in the half. Amarikwa scored three consecutive baskets during that stretch, while Harvey capped the run with a three-pointer.
However, the Sea Lions managed to trim the deficit by way of the foul shot, as Escorza, Alex Brunk and Roya Rustamzada sank two free throws apiece in the closing minute to help give contest its 29-19 score at intermission.
PLNU turned on the afterburners with a 16-4 outburst in the opening eight minutes of the second half to grab a 37-33 lead. Escorza was a one-person wrecking crew during the run, scoring 12 points, including a 3-pointer, while West and Jordan Ligons each added a triple of their own. In the interim, the Aztecs tallied just one basket on a jumper by freshman McKynzie Fort (Fontana, Calif.), who also dished out four assists on the game.
SDSU kept things close over the ensuing three minutes as a Hunter tip-in knotted the score at 41-41 with 9:03 left to play. Moments later, a jumper by Rustamzada and a 3-pointer by Brunk sandwiched around an Amarikwa bucket gave the Sea Lions a slim 46-43 lead, before the Aztecs reeled off five straight points, courtesy of a Fort basket and a triple by freshman Lexy Thorderson (Castle Rock, Colo.).
PLNU tied the game for the last time on a jumper by Syndey Tonack; however, Fort corralled a huge offensive rebound and converted a layup after Harvey's bid for a second straight free throw went awry, giving SDSU the lead for good at 51-48 with 1:17 remaining.
The Sea Lions twice pulled to within one, including a 53-52 spread following a pair of Escorza foul shots with 27 seconds left on the clock, but Harvey connected on two free throws on the Aztecs' next foray down the court to give the Scarlet and Black its winning margin of 55-52. On defense, SDSU clamped down over the final 20 seconds, forcing an errant jumper by Paola Roa to preserve the victory.
As a team, the Aztecs shot 38 percent from the floor on 21-of-55 attempts, compared to a 35 percent clip (15-43) by the Sea Lions, who went 11-of-17 from the field (64 percent) in the second half after a 4-of-26 effort (15 percent) in the first stanza.
San Diego State opens its 2014-15 regular-season slate on Friday, Nov. 14, when it plays host to Sacramento State at Viejas Arena, starting at 2 p.m. PT.